Transaction fee on air passengers? No, says SC

The apex court also directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to examine the tariff structure of the airlines in view of their wide range of base prices for air tickets.

"There are several bands for fixing the base price which in certain cases range from Rs 1,120 to Rs 36,000. . .We are of prima facie view that regarding wide range of basic fair, it would be necessary for the DGCA to examine the tariff structure of the airlines," the bench said.

The bench rapped the DGCA for not enforcing its own direction dated December 17 last when it had restrained the airlines from charging transaction fee from passengers.

Transaction fee on air passengers? No, says SC

"We regret to note that despite provision is there not to charge transaction fee, the DGCA failed to enforce its own direction," the bench said, adding, "It needs our immediate intervention for non-compliance of direction issued by the DGCA.

"The airlines cannot charge transaction fee from customers."

Click NEXT to read further. . .

Image: Ground staff guide a Jet Airways aircraft towards a gate on the tarmac at Bengaluru International Airport.Photographs: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters